PM Modi's G7 Diplomatic Blitz In Italy: Who Else Did He Meet Besides Biden, Meloni And Zelenskyy?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Italy for India on Friday after attending the G7 summit, where he held several bilateral meetings with world leaders and discussed a host of subjects. “Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

List of the leaders Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 summit:

Macron

The Prime Minister said he had an excellent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, their fourth meeting in one year, and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership. The meeting with Macron is Modi’s first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month.

Rishi Sunak

The Prime Minister met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership in the third term of the NDA government and reviewed the progress made in the ongoing FTA negotiations. “There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector,” Modi wrote. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal described the meeting between the two leaders as “fruitful.”

Zelenskyy

Modi conveyed to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through “dialogue and diplomacy”.

The upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine also figured in the Modi-Zelenskyy talks held on the margins of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia and the Ukranian president thanked the prime minister for sending a high-level delegation to the conclave over the weekend in Switzerland. During the meeting, Modi told Zelenskyy that India believes in a “human-centric” approach to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Meloni

The Prime Minister held bilateral talks with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni here during which they discussed defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration. “​The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Pope

Modi on Friday invited Pope Francis to visit India and said he admired the pontiff’s commitment to serving the people. They met with a warm embrace at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in Apulia, southern Italy where they joined other world leaders to deliberate on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. Modi and the BJP have made several overtures to the Christian community before the general elections in the country.

Biden

On the margins of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia region, Modi also had a separate interaction with US President Joe Biden. The Modi-Biden conversation came nearly seven months after Washington’s allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. “It’s always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good,” the prime minister said.

Justin Trudeau

Modi held a brief conversation with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada ties over the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. On his interaction with Trudeau, Modi posted on ‘X’: “Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit.” Both Modi and Trudeau were seen greeting each other during the encounter. It is not immediately known what transpired between Modi and Trudeau.

Japan’s Kishida

On the sidelines of the G7, the Prime Minister also met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the importance of “a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.” “Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages,” the PM said.

Scholz

Modi also met German Chancellor Scholz with whom he discussed India-Germany Strategic Partnership and how the two sides can play a major role in furthering global growth. “Today’s interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable,” Modi wrote on X.

UN chief and Jordan King

On the sideline of the summit, PM Modi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

Presidents of Brazil, Turkey, UAE

The Prime Minister was also seen having a discussion with Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“The interactions in Italy continue…Delightful conversation with the President

@LulaOficial, President@RTErdogan and His Highness Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed,” he wrote on X.